Origin
Scandia, MN
Late night in Scandia on Tuesday
Local time
5:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Scandia, MN to Minneapolis, MN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
49m
Distance
38.1 mi
61 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 45m
★
6 AM
0h 49m
8 AM
0h 57m
10 AM
0h 52m
12 PM
0h 51m
3 PM
0h 52m
5 PM
0h 57m
8 PM
0h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Scandia, MN
Efrem Efre
Trip Overview
Scandia to Minneapolis is 38.1 miles and takes about 49 minutes via I 35W, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip connects two points within Minnesota, both in the Midwest region. The route is primarily highway, making it a straightforward drive for those looking for a quick transit between these two locations. It's a good option if you're looking to get from point A to point B efficiently without a lengthy commitment.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35W | 23.4 mi | 27m |
| Scandia Trail North | 11.3 mi | 15m |
| I 35 | 1.8 mi | 1m |
| Washington Avenue South | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Lake Drive Northeast | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Olinda Trail North | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35W
— 23.4 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Scandia, MN and Minneapolis, MN.
1
Start on this road
87 ft
·
8 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto CH 3
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
Olinda Trail North
3
Turn left onto MN 97
8.8 mi
·
12 min
·
Scandia Trail North
4
Enter roundabout onto MN 97
115 ft
·
2 sec
·
Scandia Trail North
5
Continue on MN 97
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
·
Scandia Trail North
6
Enter roundabout onto US 61
250 ft
·
4 sec
·
Scandia Trail North
7
Continue on US 61
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
·
Scandia Trail North
8
Keep slight right at fork onto US 61
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Scandia Trail North
9
Continue on CR 23
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
Lake Drive Northeast
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward I 35 South
Use the left / straight lanes.
11
Merge onto I 35
1.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35W
23 mi
·
27 min
·
I 35W
Toward I 35W: Minneapolis
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 17C
Toward Washington Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
14
Turn right onto CR 152
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Washington Avenue South
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
15
Arrive at destination
CR 152
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.1 miles from Scandia, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 37.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CH 3 / Olinda Trail North
Turn right onto CH 3 / Olinda Trail North
Navigation decision point
7
11.8 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the ramp toward I 35 South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Toward I 35 South
7
13.7 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
I 35W
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35W toward I 35W: Minneapolis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 35W: Minneapolis
7
37.1 mi into trip
|
~46m in
Take the exit toward Washington Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 17C
Toward Washington Avenue
6
37.4 mi into trip
|
~47m in
|
CR 152 / Washington Avenue South
Turn right onto CR 152 / Washington Avenue South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.67 one way
$11.34 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $6.11 | $12.22 |
| premium | $4.53 | $6.80 | $13.60 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.41 | $16.82 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.4 | 0 | $4.00 | $1.83 |
| Efficient EV | 9.5 | 0 | $3.33 | $1.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.2 | 0 | $5.33 | $2.44 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Minneapolis, MN
Late night in Minneapolis on Tuesday
Local time
5:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
58°F
Centerville, MN
19 mi in
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
2 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
49m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 66% of this 38.1-mile drive on highways, with the longest continuous stretch on I 35W covering 23.4 miles. The transition from Scandia Trail North to I 35W will put you onto faster-paced, multi-lane driving. Expect a generally smooth ride with a steady flow of traffic as you approach the urban area of Minneapolis.
66% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 23.4 mi on I 35W.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35W and Scandia Trail North. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CH 3 / Olinda Trail North.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 38.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 49m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CH 3 / Olinda Trail North): Navigation decision point; at 11.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 13.7 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,044 ft
829 ft
Total Climb
55 ft
Total Descent
270 ft
Highest Point
1,044 ft
Elevation Range
215 ft
About the Cities
Arriving in Minneapolis, MN
Full guide →Minneapolis is a city of about 430,000 people (2019) and the largest city in Minnesota. Along with neighboring Saint Paul, it forms the urban core of the Twin Cities region, the third largest metropolitan area in the Midwest after Chicago and Detroit.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 49m. Total distance: 38.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (66%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 23.4 miles on I 35W. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Minneapolis, MN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CH 3 / Olinda Trail North): Navigation decision point; at 11.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 13.7 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Minneapolis, MN before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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